John II of Avesnes vs Qin Shi Huang

John II of Avesnes inherited the County of Hainaut from his mother Margaret II of Flanders, and later the County of Holland from his father John I of Avesnes. This united the two counties under the Avesnes dynasty.

John II of Avesnes was a candidate for the election of the King of the Romans (Holy Roman Emperor). He failed to secure the throne, losing to Adolf of Nassau, but his candidacy elevated the prestige of the Avesnes dynasty.

John II of Avesnes fought against the Dampierre faction in the War of the Flemish Succession. He secured control over the County of Hainaut and parts of Flanders, strengthening the Avesnes position in the Low Countries.

Qin Shi Huang commissioned a vast mausoleum complex near Xi'an, guarded by thousands of life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots. The project employed hundreds of thousands of workers and reflected his obsession with immortality and imperial power.

From 230 to 221 BCE, Ying Zheng led the Qin state in a series of campaigns that conquered the Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan, and Qi states. This unified China under a single ruler for the first time, ending the Warring States period.

Qin Shi Huang ordered the standardization of Chinese script, currency, and weights and measures across the unified empire. This facilitated administration, trade, and cultural integration, laying a foundation for future dynasties.

After conquering the last independent state, Ying Zheng declared himself Shi Huangdi (First Emperor), founding the Qin Dynasty. He adopted a new title to signify his supreme authority and initiated centralized imperial rule.

Qin Shi Huang ordered the connection and extension of existing northern fortifications to create a unified defensive wall against nomadic Xiongnu raids. This project involved massive conscripted labor and became the precursor to the later Great Wall.

On the advice of Li Si, Qin Shi Huang ordered the burning of historical records and philosophical texts not aligned with Legalist doctrine. He also had 460 Confucian scholars buried alive to suppress dissent and consolidate ideological control.